How to Remove and Tighten a Wheel

Do you need to remove your car wheel to do other repairs? You have come to
the right place, we are a team of ASE certified master mechanics that will show
you the proper way to remove your wheel (rim and tire) without hurting your back
or stripping or breaking the wheel studs and lug nuts. Once the repair is
complete you will reinstall the tire back onto the wheel hub or axle flange,
that's where our guide comes in.

Many car repairs involve removing the tire to gain access to replace other
parts so it will need to be taking off and put back on many times, its a good
idea to know how to do it correctly. The safety of yourself, family and friends depend
on the proper installation of the wheel not the mention damage that can occur to
your car if the wheel falls off.

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will need to save money over your lifetime of driving.

Let's get started

Before you begin you will need to know
how
to jack up and raise your car correctly without damaging the undercarriage.
This is important because if you jack the car in an incorrect manner you will
cause more damage than good costing you more time and money.

Tools and Supplies Needed to Complete the Job

Floor or spare tire jack

Jack stands

Lug wrench or breaker bar with socket

Blocks of wood (to stop the tire and car from rolling when raised)

Torque wrench

Large flat blade screwdriver

Gloves

Protective eye wear

Step 1: Preparing to Remove the Lug Nuts

Before jacking the car upward and off of the ground you will need two blocks
of wood to install on either side of the tire at the opposite end of the car
being raised. This is because if you lift the car from the wheels that are
holding it in place (drive or emergency brake wheels) the car could roll away if
it's on a slight incline.

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In other words if you have a rear wheel drive car and
you jack both rear wheels off of the ground the front wheel will allow the car
to move because there is nothing stopping it, they roll freely. The rear wheels
hold the car in place via the transmission being in park or emergency brake
being on.

Start by having the car on level ground before jacking it upward. This will
stabilize the car while preparing the wheel to be removed. There are typically
two types of wheel covers which hinder the removal of the lug nuts. The first
is the complete hubcap which needs to be removed to access to the lug nuts.

Using the opposite side of the vehicles lug wrench or a large flat blade
(standard) screwdriver wedge the tip in-between the cap and the rim of the
tire. This will start releasing the grip on the hubcap spring loaded clamps
which hold it onto the inner part of the rim.

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Twist the lug wrench or screwdriver back and forth which will help in the
removal process as you follow the cap around. Work around the cap until it is
fully removed this will expose the lug nuts holding the rim onto the
bearing hub
or axle. A hubcap is made of plastic and can break if you are not gentle
with it so take your time and pull it outward easily.

Here is an example of a lug nut cover on an aluminum wheel which has plastic
covers over them which must be removed to access. These plastic covers
are made to resemble lug nuts and actually thread onto the metal ones that hold
the rim on. Each of these must be removed before the center cap will come off.

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This is what it looks like once the center cap has been removed with the nuts behind it. This cap can also be held on a by a signal screw or small bolt.

This style of wheel has the lug nuts already exposed and is ready for removal
without any additional preparation. You can find this style on alloy or aluminum
wheels which is more decretive. Some manufacturers have a wheel lock which is usually
inside the car located in the glove box or in one of the door side compartments.

This lock
is a specialized socket that will only fit the particular car it is made for. If
this lock is lost you will need to contact the dealer and provide the VIN number
to get a replacement.

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Step 2: Lug Nut Removal

The first step in removing the lug nuts is obtaining a tool capable of doing
so. This could be a lug wrench which is supplied in most cars by the spare tire.
If you are unable to locate the spare consult your owner’s manual this should be
in the trunk or glove box.

Most mechanics prefer to use a breaker bar which is basically a large socket
wrench that will give you additional leverage over a traditional wrench or
socket and ratchet. This bar is usually not included in a typical tool set and
will need to be purchased separately along with a set of 1/2 drive deep well
sockets.

Wheel lugs sizes can be 17mm, 18mm, 19mm, 21mm or 3/4 or 13/16 in most
cases.

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To remove the lug nuts you are going to turn them counterclockwise. These
nuts will be tight so be ready, one thing you want to never do is pull upward on
the lug wrench this will cause pressure to your lower back and cause pain as the
muscles get pulled in a direction they are not used to. This takes the fun out
of the repair job.

While the tire is still touching the ground, you are ready to break the lugs
loose. The reason for this is the tire will want to rotate as you
apply pressure downward to break the nuts loose and if it is off the ground it
will be difficult to hold it still. You can "set" the jack in place and lift the
car slightly, this will allow the suspension to travel downward but not
enough to lift the tire off of the ground.

While the tire is touching the ground
apply downward pressure to the lug wrench while holding the pivot point steady.
If the lugs are super tight try using your body weight and bouncing on the wrench this
will increase the pressure exponentially.

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Some lugs can be rusted or the mechanic that tightened them on last
time had the impact wrench turned up to high and super tightened them. In this
case you may need to use your full body weight and step on the lug wrench. Make
sure the lug wrench or breaker bar is on the nuts fully to avoid rounding.

Be
careful doing this because there is much more pressure being applied and things
can get out of control like the lug wrench flying off and hitting you or someone
else.

Continue breaking the lugs loose until all of them have been done and have
been turned about one full turn This will unsure that once the tire
is in the air you will have no problem completely removing the nuts, do not
remove the nuts fully at this time.

Now you can finish lifting the car until the tire is no longer touching the ground, in this instance we are using a
hydraulic floor jack which is more stable than a scissor jack that is
supplied with most cars. The vehicle is then stabilized with jack stands, never
get under a car without these stands for safety.

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Now you can continue to remove all of the lug nuts either be hand or using
the lug wrench or breaker bar. At this point you can even use a regular socket
and ratchet set up.

One thing to point out is on some European models such as
Mercedes Benz, BMW and Porsche will use lug bolts which when removed will allow
the tire to fall because there is no wheel stud to hold the rim in place so be ready to grasp the
tire.

Step 3: Removing the Wheel

Once all of the lugs have been remove the tire will be loose, grasp it and
pull it from the wheels studs. If repairs are being done lay the tire flat and
slide it under the car for an added measure of safety, do not hit the jack
stands with the tire.

Now is a good time to
inspect the
tire's wear pattern, also check the tire for nails and cuts which can hinder
its performance. If the tire needs replacement its best to have it done by a
shop because removing the tire from the rim is difficult and requires a
machine to do it in most cases.

Step 4: Inspecting Wheel Studs

After said repairs have been completed it is time to reinstall the tire and
rim back onto the car. Before this can be done it's a good idea to inspect the
threads on the wheel studs located on the axle flange, hub or brake rotor.

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You should also
check the lug nuts themselves and replace any that are damaged. Also
wipe the mounting surface free from dirt or grease before the wheel is
reinstalled.

Step 5: Reinstalling the Wheel

After a successful inspection or car repair grasp the tire and gently reinstall it onto the
wheel studs as to not damage the threads.

Some European cars you will need to hold the tire in place on the wheel hub
and then try to align the rim with the threaded lug bolt holes before installation. You may need to jockey the rim around to line up these holes (Some lug
bolts are already installed in the image below).

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Once the rim is sitting on the wheel studs push the wheel until it rests
flush against the rotor or drum flange. Install the lug nuts onto the studs by turning
them clockwise. Do not start the lugs with a socket and ratchet, air tool or
electric impact gun because this can cross thread the lug nuts and ruin the stud
and nut.

Continue installing the lug nuts until all have been started at least
two turns. (Never use grease on lug nuts, if rust exists on the wheel studs use
a wire brush to remove it before installation.)

Step 6: Tighten the Wheel Lugs

Start the initial tightening by following a star pattern. This will ensure
the wheel to be tightened evenly which will avoid warping the rim, brake rotor, drum,
hub or brake drum. You can use a normal ratchet and socket for this while
holding the tire by hand. In the next step the wheel will be tightened
completely.

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Now, lower the car just enough for the tire to touch the ground and hold it
from spinning while it is being tightened. Use a torque wrench and set it
to manufacturer's specifications which are usually 70 to 90 pounds for passenger
cars, and 100 to 120 pounds for pick up trucks and larger SUV's.

Finish
tightening the lugs in a star pattern while listening and feeling for the wrench
give and click signaling the proper torque has been achieved. If a torque wrench
is not available, tighten the lugs evenly in a star pattern, go over the lugs
twice to ensure they are all tight.

After the wheel has been tightening reinstall the hubcap or lug nut cover. Some of
these covers will have a timer in the form of a notch or groove that will sit in
the appropriate spot in the rim. A complete hub cap with have a relief for the
valve stem so take note and install it correctly. Be
careful not to hit the cover too hard as it is plastic and it will break.

Once the
job is complete listen for any strange noises while being driven. A loose wheel will
make a clicking or ticking noise when rolling at low speeds. It's a good idea to
recheck the lug nuts after a day or two of driving to make sure they are secure.
After installation is complete check the air pressure in tire, this will help
the tire last and perform its best for years to come.